Presidential Poll: INEC Begins Collation Today

The outcome of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections will become clearer as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begins collation today.

As of press time, Saturday results from the various polling units across the country were still trickling in.

Frontline presidential candidates – Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Musa Kwankawaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) – won in their respective polling units.

The candidates had, after casting their ballots, lauded the election process and expressed confidence of victory.

The exercise was described as largely peaceful, though there were cases of violence and disruption of voting exercise recorded in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

There were also reports of the late start of voting and malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) in some polling units across the country.

Collation begins today – INEC chair

Speaking in Abuja yesterday, during the second situation briefing at the national collation centre, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the centre would be officially opened mid-day Sunday for the collation of results.

He also announced the suspension of elections in 141 polling units in four wards of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, over insecurity.

He said the voting process was interrupted by thugs before security agencies were later reinforced.